Monday, July 19, 2010

This is the set I played at the Original Plumbing party on July 1st, 2010 @ The Beaver in Toronto. It also includes parts of the set I played at Toronto Pride on July 2nd. (Thanks to Morgan for convincing me to putting it online.)
It is dedicated to the memory of Will Munro, whom I did not know as more than an aquaintance, but whom had always inspired me with his fusion of art, activism and celebration.

This is also a big thank-you to everyone that helped me celebrate (in whatever way) getting married!
Hopefully this will carry you all through the many summer BBQs.

While I love it when I am hired to play downtempo, idm, minimal, abstract hiphop, ambient and all that good stuff, those gigs are few and far between. More often than not, I am hired to rock the party, and this set is a good example of how I currently rock it live. It is very long, but most of my life sets are extended affairs, 2-4 hours or so, that span numerous genres and tempos.

IMPORTANT:
Since I will be off on a honeymoon for a while, I won't be able to promote this.
Please please please post this on your blog, email it to your friends, spread it around online, tweet about it, etc.
If you like it, share the love!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Oh yes, it is! This is probably the last post up until August.
I'm happy to announce that I'm going to get hitched and then go travel for a bit. This will of course mean that your slightly sexual fan mail will be even more scandalous.
But that's the price we pay!

I might drop a random update at the beginning of August, but no promises.
You'll note that this update is a bit longer than others. I break my own rules because I'm a reberl that can't be held down! Well, at least not without a diamond.

Bomb The Bass - Up The Mountain ft The Battle Of Land And Sea (Gui Boratto Remix): Gui always does a slick job of taking a downtempo number and pulling it out into a mellow techy blissout track. Subtle ecstasy!

Brooklyn Rider - String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 10_ Andantino, Doucement ExpressifBrooklyn Rider - String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 10_ Assez Vif Et Bien Rythmé: Chamber groups don't get enough love! Instead we're all fucking gaga over stupid "musicians" that just loop shit in fruityloops and don't actually know how to pluck a string.
Well fuck that shit, and give the new album "Dominant Curve" a helluva lot of love. I know I know, you're scared. It's OK to be scared. But this album isn't a wall, it's not inaccessible to your rave-soaked mind. You can do this.
WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER.

Dan Mangan - Road Regrets: From last year's "Nice, Nice, Very Nice", it's about time we dropped some Dan on here.
Recently announced that this one is on the Polaris Prize short-list, so give it some love. Since the Polaris assholes are too stupid to realize how awesome the new Crystal Castles and Basia Bulat albums are, this becomes one of the front-runners to win.

Gaggle - Hidden Army: oh. my. god. This is like Caitlyn catnip. Like kitty heroin, but for people!
It's a custom synthesized drug specifically crafted to bop around through my synapses and illicit squeals and ooohs.
When Caitlyn has sexy dreams, this is the soundtrack.

Glass Ghost - Like a Diamond: He has a soft voice a bit like Jeffrey Lewis, with a bit of Chris Garneau sullen emotion.

Jolea - Love Ruins All: This one has a bit of a pop-producer kind of slick glaze on it, but it's hard to resist the oh-so-soaring vocals on top of a click-beat.

Nice Nice - See Waves: Scored this great song from the Warp Records 2010 sampler, so I am waiting patiently for their full length album to come out. Very much recommended for fans of Yeasayer and Animal Collective.

Rae Spoon - There Is A Light (acoustic)Rae Spoon - You Can Dance: HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!! THERE IS NEW RAE SPOON COMING OUT THIS SUMMER!!! FUCK YES
I went and listened to the new tracks on his myspace and I'm so damn excited.
so. damn. excited.
The first track here is the acoustic version of the song that appeared on the free "thereisafire" EP. http://thetastates.com/mp3s/RaeSpoon_CPI_-_thereisafire.zip
Where it was all blippy and awesome there, I still have a strong love for this older acoustic rendition.
This is also the version that has a new video out for it! check it out: http://www.myspace.com/raespoon
The 2nd track here is the first single off the new album. It makes me want to rollerskate-rave. With glowsticks and lipgloss.

Rusko - Got Da Groove ft Gucci Mane: OK, Gucci has kind of been all over the internet these days. He's like a meme, in rapper form. So it was kind of inevitable that he'd find his way here.

Sebastian Lind - Stay (Janus Dyg Mix): It's like a cross between an 80s hunk balladeer and Jose Gonzalez, with a bit of Postal Service. And it's quite good.

Small Color - Hikari No Hana: How the hell can you resist this? The guitar! The whispy click beats! The gorgeous Japanese vocals you have no understanding of! YOU CAN'T RESISTS NO MOAR!

The Black Keys - Girl Is On My Mind: I am always rather cynical about modern blues rock, but dang. Dang indeed. This is from "Rubber Factory" and it's so undeniably sweet and satisfying.

The Morning Benders - ExcusesThe Morning Benders - Hand Me DownsThe Morning Benders - Stitches: The new album is "Big Echo" and why the hell is there not more craze around it? It's a fabulous album. If you love Phoenix, or Beach House, or Grizzly Bear, you will love this album. Caitlyn certified. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone that appreciates a quality Brian Wilson-styled pop song.

The Roots - Right On ft Joanna Newsome, STSThe Roots - Walk Alone ft Truck North, P.O.R.N., Dice Raw: Everyone keeps expecting them to falter, especially after the move to late-night TV, but nope. Not going to happen. "How I Got Over" is out now and every hater that loves to hate was lined up to hate. And no hate. Frowns turned upside down. Cats kissing dogs. Rivers of blood!
OK, it's not perfect, but it's a damn solid album. And it sets the bar so much higher for rappers entering mid-life: Age can bring maturity, and hiphop is not excluded. Not any more.

The Twilight Sad - I Became A Prostitute (Acoustic Version): Live from the Monolith Music Festival! If you go back to blog20100404 you'll find another acoustic take as well, and really, it's worth the tiny amount of effort to do so.
When you have a wall-of-sound-orgasm postrock band like this, you strip away the pomp and fury. You want to see the bones of it all. And underneath it all their is brilliant and heartbreaking songwriting, and you love the big loud versions even more.

Young Galaxy - Queen Drum: And we'll close it off with this cute rock number from the "Invisible Republic" album!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

First off: WHO SENT ME "ABSOLUTE DEATH"? A million thank yous to whomever sent me this lovely book in the mail.
There was no identifying information included, just a note that read "Thanks especially for Particle 1000 0001".
Well, to whomever you are, thank you for the book, and you are welcome for the mixes.

Secondly, I hope to get one more blog update out the door between now and then, but I might be taking some downtime for the rest of July. Don't get scared! Caitlyn will be back at some point in August.
Pinky swear.

Hell, there might even be a surprise for YOU ALL along the way.

Now, on to the mp3 blog...

AC Slater - Take You (Doorly Remix): Total 21st century rave-a-thon! Super classic hardcore business, reworked for the 20-years-later crowd.

Buraka Som Sistema - IC19 (Toy Selectah Remix): This is the first time I've really heard BSS stretched out and chilld down. This track just plods in and makes for a sweet summer groove, instead of the antagonistic bounce we're normally used to from BSS tracks.

DJ Earworm - Like OMG, Baby (Capital FM Summertime Ball Mashup): Speaking of summertime, here's all the summer cheese rammed together. All the nutrition of a chicken nugget in this one!

Janelle Monáe - Mushrooms & RosesJanelle Monáe - Tightrope ft Big Boi: There's shitloads of hype swirling around "The ArchAndroid", but the best parts are the most surprising.
I sear, Mushrooms & Roses could have equally come from a new Ween album. I swears it!
And tightrope is jazzy funky fun.

Mount Kimbie - AdriaticMount Kimbie - Before I Move OffMount Kimbie - Mayor: After a string of ridiculously strong EPs, the new album "Crooks & Lovers" is here and knocking socks off.
Spanning a world between IDM, dubstep and minimal, Mount Kimbie has some of the most satisfying abstract beats of the year. Highly recommended.

Phoenix - Love Like A Sunset (Animal Collective Remix): Of all the Phoenix songs, this one seems most appropriately attuned to that AC aesthetic, so the remix seems natural.

Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill: So "Treats" is getting to be too awesome to resist. So much over-loaded fun!

To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie - The Needle: Lovingly brooding! From last year's LP "Marlone", this band wins for best-band-name-ever.

Wavves - Post Acid: I have to say, I really really hated all Wavves. Up until now. I don't have the full length, "King Of The Beach", yet, but fuck thank you for letting the pop joy seep through.
Fuck, I am really hoping we're over the lo-fi bullshit. LET THAT POP FLAG FLY! Thank you, Sleigh Bells, for teaching the scruffy kids of 2009's worst fad how to do it right.

Wisp - Flat RockWisp - HexenringeWisp - Hidebehind: "The Shimmering Hour" rocks a part of me that is seldom rocked, outside of the classic Warp and Rephlex catalouges.
Scattershot RDJ beats, de-tuned BOC synths, Paradinas-lifted chord progressions and Machine Drum breakbeat-love.
If you are a fan of the classic IDM sound, defintely get this album.

You Say Party! We Say Die! - Heart Of GoldYou Say Party! We Say Die! - Lonely's Lunch: I had mostly ignored the album "XXXX" when it came out last year, but these singles caught my ear.
They are much mellower indie pop than I was lead to believe they'd be, but they fit in perfectly with some Yeah Yeah Yeahs.